Lights out for Power as Napa wins battle

05 December 2007

HAPPY NAPA: Ian Napa (above left) trades punches with Martin Power during Friday night’s explosive clash
THERE was sweet revenge for British bantamweight champion Ian Napa, plus good wins for local prospects Tony Salam, Dwayne Lewis and Jamie Radford on promoter Frank Maloney's Friday night show staged at the Newham Leisure Centre, writes LEN WHALEY.

In the feature fight of the show, east Londoner Napa retained the British bantamweight belt, earning a revenge win over former titeholder, TKO Gym fighter Martin Power, in a reverse of their 2005 clash.

"It was a great fight and now I can really say I am the best bantam in the country," said the east London fighter, who now sets his sights on international honours.

The reigning champion was hard-pressed early in the contest by Power, who put together quick combinations.

But the classy Napa showed his ring-craft as he took control in the middle rounds and went on to retain his title with scores of 117-112 and 117-111 (twice).

Although the pace rarely slackened, the final round provided a memorable finale with the battling bantams giving everything in toe-to-toe exchanges.

In the chief supporting contest on a bright bill, South Africa's tall Commonwealth bantamweight champion Tshifhiwa Munyai once again showed his world-class ability.

Munyai, who impressed earlier with two wins over Power, clearly outpointed capable Ugandan Abdul 'Cobra' Tebazalwa over eight rounds by a 79-74 margin.

Salam cruised to his seventh straight win when he forced Sheffield rival Carl Wild into retirement at the end of the fourth round in their light heavyweight contest.

Chadwell Heath puncher Salam always looked too good for the taller Wild who tried to keep their contest at long range, but always looked second best when the former ABA titleholder unloaded his speedy attacks.

Speedy hooks zipped through the upright Yorkshire boxer's defences punishing him to head and body in every round.

Salam's reluctance to step up the pace enabled Wild to stay in the bout, but his punching bursts did enough damage to make the northerner's cornerman, Glynn Rhodes, to pull his fighter out at the end of the fourth session.

The winner later insisted he was happy to the experience of distance fights to prepare him for longer battles in future when he makes his challenge for title honours.

* CANNING TOWN light-middle prospect Jamie Radford made it two straight wins as he blasted fellow prospect, Dave Murray, to his first defeat in a contest on the show that that went on after midnight.

TKO Ultrachem Gym prospect Radford turned on the power to hammer his rival to the floor with heavy hooks and force the stoppage at 1:47 of the first round.

Super middle puncher Dwayne Lewis clearly packed too much power for Doncaster rival Lee Nicholson.

Former Peacock amateur Lewis rocked his rival with solid shots before the Yorkshire fighter's cornermen signalled their fighter's surrender after two rounds.